Member Update 2025
Hello
and Welcome
to the New Financial Year
The Group has had a good topline result over 2024/2025 and has us in good stead for the start of the new financial year.
We finished the year off with a fantastic supplier of the year award from BP Buying Group so well done on that achievement.
Our next major meeting for members will be our AGM and we will provide members with a save the date shortly.
Until then stay safe and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Kind regards,
George Tsapoutas | CEO
New Lines Presentation from Support Office
June 2025
View our comprehensive overview of all the New Lines in the June 2025 Presentation Beverage, Biscuit, Confectionery, Grocery, Snacks and Non-food lines. Available dates for each line are also listed.
2025 Transport Awards
WA Carrier of the Year goes to...
Reece and myself attended the Coca Cola Transport Awards in Sydney in June.
I am proud to say we picked up the award for ‘WA Carrier of the Year.’ This was up against some very large players in the industry
Thankyou to everyone and especially to Reece and Johannes it’s good to know the effort we go to doesn’t go unnoticed
Kind Regards,
Brad Perks Managing Director
BP Conference
Supplier of the Year 2025
Congratulations to The Distributors.
On the back of the fantastic service from the Members and the support Narelle and Michelle provide the BP buying office, we have been named supplier of the year at the BP conference.
Congratulation, thank you and well done!
Highlights Reel Video
Click here to view the full highlights reel video from The Distributors 2025 Mid-Year Conference.
2025 All Stars Conference Connection, Innovation and Celebration
Friday: Team Building and Welcome Dinner
The 2025 Distributors
All Star Conference launched with electrifying energy as attendees were thrust into a dynamic ‘Survivor’-style team building challenge.
This immersive activity sparked camaraderie and strategic thinking, setting the stage for a weekend dedicated to collaboration, growth, and recognition.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Sparkling Winter Welcome Dinner transformed the poolside into a scene of elegance and warmth. Twinkling lights reflected off the water as guests mingled beneath the stars, enjoying gourmet fare and heartfelt conversations. The evening was elevated by a stunning live performance from Danielle Guest, whose soulful voice added a magical touch to the night’s ambiance.
2025 All Stars Conference Connection, Innovation and Celebration
Saturday: A Day of Insight and Inspiration
Saturday’s agenda was a powerhouse of learning and motivation.
The day began with a comprehensive overview of the All Stars program, followed by a transformative workshop on sales psychology led by the renowned Trevor Ambrose. His session provided actionable strategies and psychological insights to help teams sharpen their sales approach and boost performance.
The excitement continued with the highly anticipated relaunch of the All Star Program. New features, ambitious goals, and a renewed vision were unveiled, sparking enthusiasm and engagement. Attendees were invited to contribute their perspectives during the interactive feedback session, fostering a sense of ownership and community.
A standout moment of the day was the keynote address by Justin
‘Jonesey’ Jones. His gripping stories of endurance, leadership, and resilience captivated the audience, leaving everyone inspired to push boundaries and embrace challenges with courage.
2025 All Stars Conference
Connection, Innovation and Celebration
Saturday: Gala Dinner
The conference culminated in a dazzling 1920s-themed Gala Dinner that transported guests to the roaring era of glamour and jazz.
Feathers, fedoras, and flapper dresses filled the room with vintage charm, while laughter and celebration echoed throughout the venue.
The evening’s entertainment was nothing short of spectacular. Brad Blaze, the world-renowned speed painter, mesmerized the crowd with his rapid-fire artistry and charismatic performance. His live creations – a stunning Taylor Swift portrait and a nostalgic Elvis piece – were raffled off to two lucky winners, adding an unforgettable thrill to the night.
2025 CONFERENCE FEEDBACK
2025 CONFERENCE FEEDBACK
Take a look through The Distributors All Stars 2025 Conference Survey and Feedback.
The Distributors All Stars Program
This covers 72 Rep responses and 10 Supplier responses covering a variety of topics from venue and food satisfaction, key takeaways from the conference, favourite activities, logistics and much more. Click here to view complete 2025 Conference Feedback Booklet.
The Distributors All Stars Program
FOR NEXT YEAR: THEME & LOCATION
Taking a look at OZ with Willam Lombard
Australia is one of the most culturally and ecologically diverse countries in the world. Here are some of the wonderfully diverse aspects that make it unique:
Cultural Diversity
Multicultural population: Over 30% of Australians are born overseas, making it one of the most multicultural countries globally. Communities from China, India, the UK, Vietnam, Italy, Greece, and many more contribute to its cultural mosaic.
Languages: Besides English, more than 300 languages are spoken, including Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Indigenous languages.
Religious variety : Australia is home to people of many faiths including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, as well as a significant number of people who identify with no religion.
Biodiversity & Natural Environments
Unique wildlife: Over 80% of animals and plants in Australia are found nowhere else—like kangaroos, koalas, platypuses, and echidnas.
Ecosystems: From the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree Rainforest, the arid Red Centre to alpine highlands— Australia’s landscapes are incredibly varied.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
Including natural wonders like Uluru, Kakadu National Park, Fraser Island, and the Tasmanian Wilderness.
Indigenous Heritage
Oldest continuous culture: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived in Australia for over 65,000 years.
Language diversity : Pre-colonisation, there were over 250 Indigenous languages and 800 dialects.
Art and storytelling : Indigenous art, songlines, and Dreamtime stories offer deep cultural knowledge and connection to the land.
Cuisine
Fusion food: Australian cuisine reflects its multicultural influences – think Thai-inspired burgers, ItalianAustralian pastas, Vietnamese banh mi, and modern Indigenous bushfood.
Wine & coffee culture: Australia has world-class wine regions (Barossa Valley, Margaret River) and a globally recognized coffee scene, especially in Melbourne.
Geographical Spread
Urban vs remote: Vibrant cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane coexist with vast outback towns, tropical coasts, and quiet bushland communities.
Climate zones: From tropical in the north to temperate in the south, and desert in the center – Australia covers nearly every major climate type.
Confectionery has a rich and surprising history.
Chocolate was once used as currency, and the first candy was made in ancient Egypt. Also, some studies suggest that chewing gum can improve cognitive functions. Here are some more fun facts:
Ancient origins:
The earliest forms of candy, made with honey and fruit, date back to ancient Egypt.
Chocolate as currency: In some ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao beans were used as money.
Candy in space: Astronauts have taken candies like M&Ms and jelly beans on space missions.
Dentist-invented cotton candy:
William Morrison, a dentist, co-invented the machine that makes cotton candy.
Jelly Babies were once “Peace Babies”: They were introduced after World War I and were originally called “Peace Babies” to commemorate the end of the war.
The first lollipop:
Some historians believe our ancient ancestors were the first to enjoy a version of the lollipop.
Sour Warheads origin: These sour candies originated in Taiwan in the 1970s.
Chewing gum and cognitive function: Studies have shown that chewing gum can improve memory and attention.
Business Snapshot from Scott Ensor
EOFY: The perfect time to reflect on how much money I spent and how little I have left.
Top Line revenue for the group MAT to the end of June was up +9%, with growth in NSW up +12% and both QLD & WA coming in at +10%.
Quote:
“A shark could swim faster than me, but I could probably run faster than a shark. So in a triathlon, it would all come down to who is the better cyclist.”
Credit: Jack Handey
By category, Beverages growth was up +19%, Confectionery up +9%, and Biscuits up +8%. Non-food is holding at 0%, and Grocery remains in decline. Snacks are up 2% in the period. 8 of our Top 10 Suppliers by revenue were in growth with Suntory up +35% and Sanitarium Health Food up +30%.
Across our customer base, Metro Petroleum was again up +27% and runner up NSG up +19%. All of the Top 10 Accounts by revenue were in positive growth for the period versus the same period last year, with Officeworks moving into 10th spot up 12% year over year.
The Distributors Group Sales
Business Snapshot
TD State Results
Distributors Account Results
The Distributors Account Results
The Distributors Supplier Results
Distributors Supplier Results
The
The Smiths Snackfood Company Red Bull Australia Pty Ltd Mars / Wrigley
Schweppes
Universal Candy
Mondelez Suntory Beverages & Food Aust
Nestle Confectionery
Snack Brands Australia
The
Support Office Contacts
Andrew Johnson
Angelo Fountoulakis
Customer and Supplier Relationship Manager
Email: andrew.johnson@the-distributors.com.au
Account Manager
Email: angelo.fountoulakis@the-distributors.com.au
Deepika Chetlapalli Senior IT Support Analyst
Gale King
George Tsapoutas
Harsika Manoranjen
Hasan Jacob
9886 0818
Email: deepika.chetlapalli@the-distributors.com.au
Receivable Team Leader 02 9886 0822 Email: gale.king@the-distributors.com.au
Email: george.tsapoutas@the-distributors.com.au
Email: harsika.manoranjen@the-distributors.com.au
Programmer
9886 0820 Email: it@the-distributors.com.au / hasan.jacob@the-distributors.com.au Jason Smith
jason.smith@the-distributors.com.au
Jeff Small
jeff.small@the-distributors.com.au Jenny Platt
Email: jenny.platt@the-distributors.com.au
9886 0832
Kevin Zhao
9886 0824 Email: kevin.zhao@-the-distributors.com.au
Kruthika Buzunuru IT Support Analyst
9886 0859 Email: krithika.buzunuru@-the-distributors.com.au
Kumar Konduru
Email: kumar.konduru@the-distributors.com.au
Contact Name Position Title
Kusum Subedi Promotions and Customer Service Administration 02 9886 0858
Email: kusum.subedi@the-distributors.com.au
Lisa Wang Accountant 02 9886 0811
Email: lisa.wang@the-distributors.com.au
Mark Williams National Operations Manager 02 9886 0821 0412 513 570
Email: mark.williams@the-distributors.com.au
Michelle Terblanche National Sales Manager 02 9886 0854 0418 954 835
Email: michelle.terblanche@the-distributors.com.au
Natalee Bakla National Account Manager 02 9886 0857 0433 285 431
Email: natalee.bakla@the-distributors.com.au
Phylicia Brown Supplier Category Manager 02 9886 0888
Email: phylicia.brown@the-distributors.com.au
Reanan Bagshaw E-Commerce Marketing Coordinator 02 9886 0855 0419 097 878
Email: reanan.bagshaw@the-distributors.com.au
Rebecca Simic Accounts Receivable (PT) 02 9886 0812
Email: rebecca.simic@the-distributors.com.au
Robert Kernya Vendor Replenishment Planner 02 9886 0842 0481 989 548 Email: robert.kernya@the-distributors.com.au
Rushit Gandhi IT System Analyst 02 9886 0888
Email: rushit.gandhi@the-distributors.com.au
Rusty Skinner National Account Manager 02 9886 0830 0438 032 486
Email: rusty.skinner@the-distributors.com.au
Scott Ensor Data Analyst 02 9886 0828
Email: scott.ensor@the-distributors.com.au
Veronica Kernya Graphic Design 02 9886 0888
Email: veronica.kernya@the-distributors.com.au
William Lombard Finance Manager 02 9886 0810 0421 787 234
Email: william.lombard@the-distributors.com.au